
A group of German boys are ordered to protect a small bridge in their home village during the waning months of the second world war. Truckloads of defeated, cynical Wehrmacht soldiers flee the approaching American troops, but the boys, full of enthusiasm for the "blood and honor" Nazi ideology, stay to defend the useless bridge. The film is based on a West German anti-war novel of the same name, written by Gregor Dorfmeister.
Directed by Bernhard Wicki, The Bridge leans on a strong ensemble — Folker Bohnet, Fritz Wepper, Michael Hinz — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1959.
Read More on the Blog
Loading reviews…
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
Get weekly picks and blog posts in your inbox.
Criterion ChannelIncluded with subscription — watch instantly Watch Now